It's been a few days since I let Elora stay at my home. And I can honestly say that in 1862, I never thought I'd be felling like this.

"Th-Thank you Mr. Whitlock, for doing this little thing for me." She gasped in pain and winced as I cleaned her back that was riddled with scars from years to weeks old. "I never known to have someone like you show me this kindness." She looked at me with a smile.

"Now listen here, you just got lucky that I found you over yander, you're still nothin but a run away nigger." I grit my teeth in anger as I scrubbed her back roughly. She cried out in pain and I immediately stopped. I sighed and properly cleaned her wounds before bandaging them up. I turned her to me and my frown deepened when I saw that tears were streaming down her face.

"I apologize for hurtin you Elora." I scoffed at myself. She looked at me and opened her mouth to say something before there was a knock at the door. I jumped up fast and she pulled my shirt she had been wearing over her head to wear. She ran into my room in the back and hid under it.

I opened the door to see another officer standing.

"Mr. Whitlock, I come to tell you that your parents have passed away." I felt like my whole world stopped. I sat down on the couch and laid my face in my hands.

"I'm sorry sir." He patted my back. "I recall they were killed by some niggers." He walked to the door to leave. "I wouldn't trust any of them." And with that, he was gone.

I sat there for what it seemed like years until I heard footsteps, I tried to see Elora standing there. I was boiling with anger, I stood up fast and went up to her. Wrapping my hands around her neck, I slowly began taking her life.

"Mr...Whit...lock." She croaked before falling to the ground as I let go fast. I screamed in anger and threw a vase at the wall before crumbling to the ground. I sank into myself and cried like a baby. I felt her arms go around me to hug me. I laid my face onto her breast and just sobbed in her arms. She stroked my hair and sung to me. I held on to her like she was going to vanish from my life.

"I-I apologize for takin' out my anger on you Elora." I bit my lip hard enough to draw out blood.

"It's quite alright Mr. Whitlock, people do many things out of anger." She stroked my honey blonde hair. I looked up at her and sat all the way up.

"How can you be so kind and mild? I reckon you wanna kill so many folk from how they treat you.." I held her face in my hands. Her soft features were comforting to me.

"I do kill people Mr. Whitlock, with kindness." she smiled bright and I felt my already flushed face get redder.

"I suppose you could be correct." I gently stroked her face then let go. She gently helped me stand to my feet. I looked down at her and smiled. With her small short frame, she was like a doll. She stood about 4'11 and I am 6'4.

"I never asked you your age, I'm 18."

"We're the same age, my birthday was on the night you found me.." She walked to the kitchen. "I think it was a good thing that you found me." She began getting things ready to bake. "I'm not sure about you Mr. Whitlock but whenever Im sad, I like something sweet to go with my salty tears. Is it alright if I fix you a cake?" She smiled at me.

I nodded and sat at the kitchen table, watching her.

"It's mighty kind of you Elora," I gripped my pant leg. "My parents were my everythin'...after my brother and sister passed. I-I.." my throat went dry and my body grew warm as I could feel myself about to cry but I wouldn't let myself.

"It's alright for a man to cry. A man that shows tears is braver than a man that hides em." She put the cake in the oven. I smiled and nodded.

I slowly went to her and hugged her from behind.

"You smell so good...you always do Elora." I began kissing her neck and pulling her back towards me by her waist.

"That's very kind of you to say Mr. Whitlock but I will not just be your play thing for your sexual outlet!" She moved away from me.

"You're not just a play thing dammit...I, really think I might feel somethin strong for you..somethin I'm afraid to admit." I let go of her, not wanting to upset her further.

She looked at me and smiled softly.

"Tell me Mr. Whitlock, what are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid I might lose you." I bit my lip. "I have been nothin but somethin awful to you and you have been very kind. I am afraid of...loving you cause if someone were to find you, they'd kill you and I would be put on trail for lovin you." I looked at her as she took her small soft hand into my rough big palm.

"I know people...may look at you like you ain't nothin but a slave and a nigger but. I would love it if you would be my women. That is if you are willin to forgive me."